Greg Regan, President of the Transportation Trades Department of the AFL-CIO, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the alarming rise in violence against transit workers, the urgent need for investment in air traffic control systems and the importance of fully funding the Maritime Security Program.
Regan highlighted a disturbing trend, as there has been a 232 percent increase in assault-related injuries on public transit from 2014 to 2022. He emphasized the vulnerability of bus operators and train platform workers, who often face threats without adequate protection. Regan called on federal leaders to implement policies that ensure the safety of these workers, suggesting improvements in bus design and the use of visible camera systems as deterrents. He said the goal is to create a safer environment not only for transit workers but also for passengers, as assaults can lead to dangerous situations for everyone on board.
The conversation shifted to the critical need for upgrading the U.S. air traffic control system. Regan stressed the importance of multi-year investments to overhaul the largest air traffic control system in the world. He warned against allowing profit-driven interests to influence this process. Instead, Regan advocated for a holistic approach that includes modernizing technology, hiring more controllers and ensuring all safety inspectors and technicians are fully supported. This comprehensive strategy aims to enhance the safety and efficiency of the U.S. airspace, benefiting both the aviation industry and the traveling public, he added.
Regan also discussed the Maritime Security Program, which provides a crucial link between the U.S. government and private shipping industries. This program ensures U.S.-flagged and U.S.-crewed vessels are available for military and humanitarian needs. He highlighted the program's cost-effectiveness, noting that it prevents the government from having to invest billions in its own fleet. By maintaining a ready commercial fleet, the program supports national security and commercial interests, making it a bipartisan priority that deserves continued funding, he said.
To explore these critical safety issues further, listen to the full episode.
America’s Work Force is the only daily labor podcast in the US and has been on the air since 1993, supplying listeners with useful, relevant input into their daily lives through fact-finding features, in-depth interviews, informative news segments and practical consumer reports. America’s Work Force is committed to providing an accessible venue in which America's workers and their families can hear discussion on important, relevant topics such as employment, healthcare, legislative action, labor-management relations, corporate practices, finances, local and national politics, consumer reports and labor issues.
America’s Work Force Union Podcast is brought to you in part by our sponsors: AFL-CIO, American Federation of Government Employees, American Federation of Musicians Local 4, Alliance for American Manufacturing, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes-IBT, Boyd Watterson, Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council, Communication Workers of America, Mechanical Insulators Labor Management Cooperative Trust, International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Local 50, International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Crafts, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 6, Ironworkers Great Lakes District Council, Melwood, The Labor Citizen newspaper, Laborers International Union of North America, The National Labor Office of Blue Cross and Blue Shield, North Coast Area Labor Federation, Ohio Federation of Teachers, United Labor Agency, United Steelworkers.
